Add the vinegar to the plant milk and stir to combine. The milk will curdle and make vegan buttermilk. Set aside.
Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl. (This is also when you will add The Plant Based Egg if you are using wheat flour – see the recipe notes for directions.) If your cocoa powder is very clumpy, sift it when adding it to the bowl. Whisk together.
Make a well in the dry mixture, then pour the liquid mixture into the well. Whisk together, then let the batter stand for ten minutes.
For standard-size muffins, divide the batter equally into a lined 12-cup muffin tin. The cups will be pretty full. Add a few extra chocolate chips to the top of each muffin if you wish. Bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375 degrees and bake for an additional 13 to 16 minutes. They are done when the tops bounce back when lightly pressed. Place the muffin tin on a cooling rack for several minutes, then remove the muffins and let them cool directly on the rack until lukewarm. Serve lukewarm if you like the chocolate gooey, or cooled completely for a firmer muffin texture.
To make jumbo muffins, divide the batter equally into a lined jumbo 6-cup muffin tin. Bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375 degrees and bake for an additional 22 to 25 minutes. They are done when the tops bounce back when lightly pressed. Place the muffin tin on a cooling rack for several minutes, then remove the muffins and let them cool directly on the rack until lukewarm. Serve lukewarm if you like the chocolate gooey, or cooled completely for a firmer muffin texture.
For mini muffins, divide the batter equally into 36 to 40 lined mini muffin cups. Bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375 degrees and bake for an additional 10 to 11 minutes. They are done when the tops bounce back when lightly pressed. Place the muffin tin on a cooling rack for several minutes, then remove the muffins and let them cool directly on the rack until lukewarm. Serve lukewarm if you like the chocolate gooey, or cooled completely for a firmer muffin texture.
To make a loaf of double chocolate bread, add the batter to a greased and floured loaf pan. I used a 9″ x 4″ Pullman pan because I like my loaf to have straight sides, but you can also use an 8.5″ x 4.5″ or a 9″ x 5″ loaf pan. Bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 50 to 65 minutes. A smaller pan will make a taller loaf, and that will take longer than a loaf that is more spread out in a larger pan. The loaf is done when the edges are pulling away from the sides of the pan, and the top bounces back or remains firm when lightly pressed. Place the pan on a cooling rack for ten minutes, then turn the loaf out of the pan and let it cool directly on the rack until completely cooled. Add icing if desired.
To make a bundt cake, double the recipe and pour the batter into a well-greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 45 to 50 minutes. The cake is done when the edges are pulling away from the sides of the pan, and the top bounces back or remains firm when lightly pressed. Place the pan on a cooling rack for ten minutes, then place the rack upside down on top of the cake, and invert the pan onto the rack. Carefully loosen the pan, then remove it from the cake. Let the cake cool directly on the rack until completely cooled. Add icing if desired.
The muffins freeze and defrost beautifully, so freeze any muffins that you won't eat by the next day. To defrost, place three mini muffins or one regular or jumbo muffin upside down in the microwave. Heat on 50% power for 45 to 90 seconds (less for mini and more for jumbo), then turn the muffin right side up and heat on 50% power for another 30 to 60 seconds until the muffin is defrosted and warm all the way through. (To defrost cake slices, place them on a plate and allow to come to room temperature.)